Marco Rubio, Banned from China, Defends Tough Beijing Stance at Confirmation Hearing

"Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) answered concerns about his longstanding, vocal stance against the atrocities committed by communist China

in his confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee where he appeared following his nomination to be secretary of state.
Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) raised the Chinese government’s years-long acrimonious opposition to Sen. Rubio and his policies, which ultimately resulted in the country banning him from entry in 2020. Sen. Paul used his time to question the usefulness of sanctions generally, then express his hope that Sen. Rubio, as head of the State Department, would not antagonize China away from constructive engagement.
“My role now as secretary of state is to lead the diplomatic wing of the country and that will involve engaging them,” he continued, promising a “mature and prudent” approach to conversations with China.
Sen. Rubio described sanctions as one of the few peaceful alternatives “in the toolbox” of diplomacy to address malicious foreign behavior outside of military action. He cited onerous sanctions on Iran, the world’s premier state sponsor of terrorism, as an example of successful sanctions, contrary to Sen. Paul’s skepticism about their use." Breitbart